The German company Hy2gen has secured a strategic site at Vihreäsaari, located in the Port of Oulu in northern Finland, to develop a new facility for the production of renewable hydrogen and synthetic fuels. These fuels are intended to decarbonise sectors that are difficult to electrify, such as maritime shipping and aviation. The planned 200 MW plant is expected to establish Oulu as the largest hub for synthetic fuel production in the Baltic Sea Region, based on the number of Power-to-X (PtX) projects currently in development.
Hege Økland, Managing Director of Hy2gen Nordic, said, “Hy2gen is very pleased to have secured a site for our project at the Port of Oulu. We would like to thank the City of Oulu and the Port of Oulu for choosing us as their partner in developing this area. We look forward to future collaboration in bringing our project to life.”
Hy2gen specialises in developing, financing, constructing, and operating facilities that produce Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBOs) and other PtX fuels for clients worldwide. Its portfolio includes renewable hydrogen, ammonia, methanol, and PtX derivatives such as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (e-SAF).
The company already has projects underway in Germany, France, Norway, and Canada. Its current pipeline includes 3.4 GW of projects in planning and construction, with an additional 15 GW in development. In 2023, Hy2gen acquired the Werlte facility in Germany, which at the time was the world’s largest operating power-to-e-methane plant. In spring 2025, CertifHy certified the facility as the first RFNBO e-methane producer in Germany, in line with EU regulations.
Oulu emerges as a hub for hydrogen derivativesMarko Kilpeläinen, Director of Urban Environment Services for the City of Oulu, stated, “With this announcement, Oulu now hosts more synthetic fuel production projects than any other city in the Baltic Sea Region.” Other companies that have announced preliminary plans for hydrogen and hydrogen derivative plants in the area include French company Verso Energy, German firms Energiequelle and ABO Energy, and Finnish companies P2X Solutions and Oulun Energia.
Oulu offers an abundance of renewable electricity at some of the lowest prices in Europe. The region is the largest producer of renewable electricity in the northern Baltic Sea area. Combined with the University of Oulu’s renowned hydrogen research and the city’s position as the third-largest recipient of R&D investment per capita in the EU, this ensures access to a highly skilled workforce.
The Port of Oulu benefits from excellent rail and road connectivity as part of the TEN-T transport network, enabling easy links to the rest of Europe. Additionally, Gasgrid Finland is planning a hydrogen transport infrastructure to connect Oulu’s production capacity with other regions in Finland and across Europe. Janne Hietaniemi, Key Account Director at BusinessOulu, highlighted these advantages as key factors supporting the region’s development as a leading hydrogen hub.
While the planning reservation has been granted, Hy2gen has not yet made a final investment decision. The company will now begin preparing detailed plans for the facility. Further project details are expected to be shared at the Northern Power event in Oulu on 12 February 2026, which will bring together industry leaders, innovators, researchers, and policymakers to discuss the future of hydrogen energy in the Nordic region.
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